Thursday, August 29, 2013

Can you keep a secret? I can’t, but I’m only going to tell YOU because I trust you not to tell everyone else.

The North Judson-Wayne Township Library is getting a new automation system! Yep, by the end of the year (but hopefully sooner) the library will have a modern, up-to-date circulation system.

I heard mom talking about it today. She said that she and the director, Jane Ellen Felchuk, had a short web session with one of the people at Evolve. It was the first step in switching over from the now outdated Winnebago system the library bought back in 1998. They discussed setting up patron registration, what information was necessary, and what changes had to be made to tailor the program for our library. Both of them were impressed by the knowledge of the person doing the seminar and with how easy it was to make changes. Mom said that the session made her feel just a bit more relaxed about the entire migration. Her head is filled with horror stories from other libraries – like the library my Aunt Karen works.

About a month ago the entire staff did a webinar about the system and really, really liked it. ‘Course, once the system is in place there will probably be some slight problems – it’s only to be expected because nothing is perfect. (Except maybe me!)

Once the new system is in place patrons will have to turn in their library cards so the barcodes can be changed. That sounds like a lot of work, but the new barcodes will allow the NJ-WT Library to eventually invest in ebooks and other databases that weren’t available back in 1998. One of the reasons we haven’t bought ebooks is because we have the “wrong type” of barcodes and our patrons would not be able to use them to “check out” ebooks. All that will change in the future.

This also means that we will once again have an online catalog! Ya Hoo! I know that there are plenty of you people out there just waiting for that day. So is mom.

Well, I think I’ve blathered on long enough. Now remember, this is a secret between you and me. But I’ll let you know more as I find out about it. Till then, shhhhhhhhh!

A block party is scheduled on Main Street in Knox early next month for a worthy cause as a number of downtown businesses have stepped up to play a part in raising funds for the Eric Corey Foundation, sponsoring the Turkey Tracks event planned for April. The Turkey Tracks hunt, designed for handicapped and terminally-ill hunters, gives them a chance to do something they love that they might not otherwise be able to do.

The late Eric Corey first organized the event which allows guides to help handicapped hunters search and harvest turkeys during the three-day excursion. Eric Corey passed away in 2012 after fighting ALS for several years. His parents, Carol and Doug Corey, keep the event going to honor his wishes. Carol Corey said Turkey Tracks is an all-expenses-paid hunting excursion, and the block party is just one endeavor to fund the event.

“The block party will benefit Turkey Tracks Hunt, Eric Corey Foundation, and what we do is we take hunters in April for a turkey hunt and we pay all their expenses, including their motel arrangements, their licenses, and all the food, and we invite their family as well. We like for it to be family-oriented, and it’s for a whole weekend. They get to hunt with an experienced guide and they go out and they hunt turkeys,” said Corey.

Last year, more than 30 handicapped hunters made the trip to get out in the field and bag a bird. Corey explained the event came into being through a conversation with the owner of Mikey’s Pizza in Knox.

“Mikey’s Pizza has been excellent about trying to help us. He’s helped us now for the last five years; he usually supplies all the pizza for the hunt in April for the Saturday afternoon meal, and he kind of wanted to do something else this year and, being that there wasn’t a festival or anything going on, he thought maybe we could have a block party, and percentages of all the proceeds that it brought in, it would go back to Turkey Tracks to help us out with our hunt next year in 2014,” said Corey.

The block party is planned for Sept. 7 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and features a three-on-three basketball tournament and pizza eating contest sponsored by Mikey’s Pizza, as well as a cornhole tournament and poker run sponsored by O’s Tap. The Moose Lodge will have a food both available, while the fire department will host a car show.

On top of that, Corey explained one of their hunters, Colton Cole, has the dream of becoming a standup comedian, and he will be opening for the DJ with a comedy show.

The event takes place on Main Street, where two blocks will be closed off in front of Mikey’s Pizza and the Moose Lodge.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Ancilla Alumni Association is set to hold its 23rd Annual Blueberry Bicycle Cruise (BBC) this coming Saturday, August 31. This event takes place in association with the annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival.

The ride is a hit with participants every year. There are four routes to choose from including 31, 41, and 62 mile routes and a more family friendly 16 mile route. Riders travel through the surrounding countryside and are free to ride at their own pace enjoying the scenery along the way. Attractions along the routes include Lake Maxinkuckee, the Culver Academies, the town of Culver, the Chief Menominee Monument and for those choosing the 62 mile route, a stop at Ancilla College where fresh baked cookies are there to enjoy.

The cost of the BBC is $20 per person and the maximum fee for families is $50. The fee gives you a map of the route, emergency numbers, and SAG stops. T-Shirts are available for purchase for $12. Checks can be made payable to: Blueberry Bicycle Cruise. Registration forms can be printed ahead of time, visit www.blueberryfestival.org and will be available the day of the race at Menominee Elementary School, which is also the starting point of the cruise.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, volunteers are needed to shepherd abused or neglected children who are taken from their parents by the state through the court system. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall says that happens for a variety of reasons.

“We have pregnant mothers who intentionally abuse drugs, and then their babies are born with harmful drugs in their bodies. Children are often raised around dangerous meth labs, which is an epidemic in this county. Those labs give off toxic chemicals. You know one in four children in Starke County lives in poverty, and we’ve had children living in homes that are completely uninhabitable. We’ve had evidence where snow’s coming through the walls in the winter time,” said Hall.

In situations like this, DCS files a court case to remove children from the home, and the court intervenes. Hall says that’s where the CASA comes in.

“That’s the person who’s responsibility it is to speak on behalf of the child in the courtroom, and when it’s all said and done the advocate gives the judge his or her opinion on what is in the best interest of the child. In Starke County, the CASA is extremely helpful in making the best decision for the children of our county,” Hall explained.

Judge Hall says the CASA’s role in the process is critical.

“Only the CASA is neutral, independent and comes into the courtroom with only one mission, to share with the judge what is in the best interest of the child,” Hall said.

CASA’s go through 10 weeks of training in order to be part of the program. The next training class starts on Tuesday, Sept. 3. It’s free, but volunteers need to pay the $45 for a criminal background check. Contact Starke County CASA Director Rhonda Adcock at (574)772-7200 or by email at starkecountycasa@yahoo.com.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum during the 2013 Open House Event on September 7th. There is a full schedule of events planned including musical performances, train rides, buggy rides, a hog roast and more!

Plus, there will be a special tent setup for the kids where they can enjoy a magic show, face painting and storytelling. It's going to be a fun day, so plan to attend!

The Tippecanoe River State Park is gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, promising a weekend of fun on Sept. 6, 7, and 8. In honor of the anniversary, the weekend will be packed with events beginning at the Family Campground on Friday evening with a program presented by wildlife rehabilitator Kim Hoover, followed by a day of adventures on Saturday.

Park officials encourage everyone to stop by the Nature Center throughout the day for many great activities and interactions and are also offering an opportunity to experience the Tippecanoe River firsthand with guided kayak tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your own ride and enjoy the park on the river for free, then join Smokey the Bear for some desserts at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, the park will host the first annual Poker Paddle on the Tippecanoe River, beginning at the Canoe Camp and ending at the Nature Center and River Picnic area. Registration begins at noon and the first paddlers hit the water at 1 p.m. To participate in the Poker Paddle, you must bring a boat, lifejacket, and $5 to enter. The event is limited to the first 100 participants to register. Upon completion, prizes donated by Link Environmental Equipment will be awarded at 4:30 p.m. at the River Shelter.

Click here for the list of events or click here to view the Poker Paddle flyer. You can also find more information online, by phone, or in person at Tippecanoe River State Park.

Friday, August 23, 2013

The North Judson utility crew will be out and about next week picking up brush from alongside the roads. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said brush pick-up begins next week on Monday, Aug. 26, and she said any residents who has brush that needs to be disposed of should leave the brush laying alongside their alley before 7 a.m. Monday.

Henry stressed that this pick-up effort is for brush only, and crews will not be disposing of leaves until later in the fall. The street department will be making a one-time only sweep down the streets and alleys of North Judson. This will be the last scheduled brush pick-up for this year. If you happen to miss the deadline, you are encouraged to take brush, grass or leaves to the town dump for disposal. Sign for the key at the Water Works office.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Target’s popular one-of-a-kind giving program is back for a second year. This time, they’re inviting guests to help allocate a $5 million donation to schools across the U.S. to help them get more of the things they need, like electronics, school and office supplies, and storage and organization products.

Access Target and vote for the school of your choice once per week. Once a school has received 25 votes, Target will donate $1 per vote, with a maximum donation of $10,000 per school. The campaign runs through Sept. 21, or until the full $5 million has been allocated, so don’t forget to vote each week and share the news with friends, family, teachers and other community members.

The Statehood Day Essay Contest takes place annually in the fall and is open to all Indiana fourth graders. All Indiana students are taught Indiana history as part of their fourth-grade curriculum. The program is administered by the Indiana Statehouse Tour Office and Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The essays are judged by a panel of Indiana State Library staff and volunteer educators. The winner and finalists, along with their class, are invited to attend the Statehood Day Ceremony.

The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is in the process of developing an athletic booster club, according to Superintendent Lynn Johnson. She said Athletic Director Rob Vessely spoke to the board and explained that the effort is currently in the beginning stages and will start with football season as they endeavor to get more people involved in supporting school athletics.

As of right now, Johnson explained, the corporation has a football parents club but no athletic booster club to cover all of the sports, so they’re starting slow with focusing the athletic booster club on football. Johnson said the club will likely be doing some decorating at the field and different forms of financial support for the teams, and they’re trying to build the club up to support the other sports as well.

Johnson said the club will likely raise funds through selling spirit apparel for the time being, and she said the club will grow as time goes on, but it’s currently a work in progress.

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski announced yesterday that a member of her staff will be in Knox to assist constituents with casework and official business. The staff member will hold officer hours on Monday, Aug. 26 in the commissioner’s office on the first floor of the Starke County Courthouse.

Residents unable to attend the office hours from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT are encouraged to contact Brian Spaulding at (574) 780-1330 to schedule an appointment.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Check it out everyone! North Judson representing MSCF! These 30 locals didn’t just talk the talk they walked the walked, literally for at least 4 miles. This happened last night thanks to people like Arlene Noble and her Walking in Faith group, workers at WKVI radio, and others in the community. Great job! We are almost at our goal of getting around the world.

In case you didn’t know, we have made it to Lisbon, Portugal at 20,000 miles! We won’t be announcing any more mile updates till our Celebration on September 14. So please mark your calendars for that.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

On Thursday, September 5th a grant writing workshop will be held at the North Judson-Wayne Township Library in the Special Exhibits Room from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Information will be presented by the Starke County Community Foundation and KV REMC Operation Round Up.

Grants are open to any charitable organization. Applications are available at the Starke County Community Foundation office, at any public library, or online at www.nicf.org.

Can you believe it!?! Mom went to the 4-H Dog Show in Indianapolis over the weekend and she didn't take me!

My suspicions were aroused when she started to avoid looking at me when I snuggled next to her on the couch. Then she started to put clothes into her flowered duffel bag. I know what THAT means, mom does that when she goes to visit family in North Carolina AND I DON'T GET TO GO!!!!!!!!

Finally came the big talk. Only dogs that were being exhibited at the dog show were allowed on the fairgrounds, I was retired so I couldn't go. Even if mom did take me I'd have to stay crated in the hotel room, which wouldn't be fair to me or to the rest of the people staying at the hotel. So off mom went to watch the 19 members of the Starke County K-9 Kadets compete down state. Sigh, extremely HEAVY sigh.

Usually mom asks Aunt Jane Ellen if I can stay at her house when mom goes to North Carolina; this time I stayed home with Aunt Kathi and Daisy. Aunt Kathi made me sleep in my crate at night, not on mom's bed. You can't believe how happy I was when mom got home on Sunday night!

Of course, I didn't let her know just how happy I was. I played it cool. Have to admit, one of the first things she did was to give me some Greenies that she bought for me at the dog show. They were good! And she took a vacation day on Monday so we got to spend the day together. I even helped her mow the lawn.

So I guess I won't be too mad at her. After all, the State 4-H Dog Show only comes once a year.

Do you need help logging steps in the Moving Starke County Forward walking challenge?

Those wanting to help step up the effort in reaching a goal of 25,000 miles by Sept. 2 can participate in a walk scheduled in North Judson tonight at 6 p.m. CT. Walkers are to meet at the intersection of State Road 10 and 250 West. A parking area is available at that location.

Roughly 5,278 miles need to be logged before the completion of the walking challenge that ends on Labor Day. Data indicates 267 participants have already walked over 19,000 miles to get Starke County around the world.

If you haven’t signed up for this unique opportunity, you still have time. Sign up at any library branch in Starke County. Report your steps to Heather Skelly, Wellness Specialist at IU Health Starke Hospital, by calling (574) 772-1272.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Teachers in the North Judson-San Pierre School System return to the classroom today. And for you teachers who are new to the school system, stop in and get to know us. We're always glad to support education.

The Knox branch of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has a new place to call home.

After being housed in a building at 307 Carlson Drive for many years, the license branch is now located in the strip mall directly north of the Christos restaurant and bears the address of 1919 S. Heaton St.

The Knox branch is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. While in-person transactions are not available on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, you may conduct license or registration transactions online at www.mybmv.com.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

While it is not my favorite time period, if you love the Civil War era then you don't want to miss this chance to experience just a small part of it through this reenactment.

By: Ben Haut, WKVI

Published: August 10th, 2013

A Civil War encampment will make an appearance at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum next weekend.

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will be making a trip back in time on Saturday, Aug. 17 as Civil War encampments are established in the area. Railroading played a huge part in the Civil War, and the HVRM will allow visitors to wander through the encampment and experience the life of early soldiers as reenactors from the Indiana 20th Volunteers and the 4th Battery Light Artillery play the part.

If you hear cannon fire in the area, don’t panic – cannons are scheduled to fire between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The museum will be open for tours, offering a learning experience and information on the history of railroading in northwest Indiana. A leisurely ride through the countryside of Starke and LaPorte counties will follow, including rides in a vintage caboose, open-air car or coach car on the train.

The HVRM is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, with a round-trip, 10 mile train ride departing for English Lake at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The costs range from $5 to $11. Meanwhile, the 2:45 p.m. round-trip, 20 mile train ride to LaCrosse will run $7 to $19, and tickets may be purchased online at www.hoosiervalley.org.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Hamlet, Indiana made the national news recently. An article in The Arrow, the official publication of the Yellowstone Trail Association, highlights the Yellowstone Trail Festival at Hamlet. See page 10 of the attachment.

Yes, it is a big weekend coming up August 16, 17 & 18, 2013 in Hamlet, IN. The Yellowstone Trail Festival is combined with Hamlet's Sesquicentennial celebration. Hamlet is 150 years old this year and it was 101 years ago that the Yellowstone Trail was planned. The sale of automobiles was really gaining a foothold in America in the early 1900s. People were in love with the car. But few good roads were available to travel between towns. A plan was put together to connect all of the best existing roads "from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound." The Yellowstone Trail was born.

Come, join the town of Hamlet as it celebrates these historic anniversaries at the Starke County 4-H Fair Grounds. Go to the Yellowstone Trail Festival website, then click on "schedule" to see the many events. --- http://yellowstonetrailfest.com/Home.html.

Do the bright lights of Hollywood beckon you? Are you waiting to be discovered? This might be your chance. If you are interested in being an extra for the film they are shooting in Culver then click on the link in this story from WKVI and follow their lead.

By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

Published: August 9th, 2013

The movie “Little Savages” is currently being filmed in the town of Culver.

Producer James Simmons is looking for extras. If you are interested, follow this link and fill in the required fields. On the second page you will find a calendar of days in which extras are needed. Simply choose “yes” or “no” on the days you are available.

After you complete the form, you will receive an email with times you will need to respond to the set, as well as the location, contact information and wardrobe required.

The filming has been ongoing since Monday. Here is a short synopsis of “Little Savages”:

Visiting the charming lake town of Culver, Albie, a boy genius and Tiffany, his sister, race against bullies to find a treasure recently hidden by an eccentric philanthropist. Todd Savage, Eddie Savage and Winnie Savage are local kids who welcome in Albie, while Tiffany is torn between the two groups. The movie follows the adventures of the group as they look for the treasure.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Many people throughout Knox and the
surrounding area were sad to learn that there would be no Harvest Festival this
year because no one offered to head up the committee, but a group of women have
taken it unto themselves to host a smaller event – something for the children,
according to “Harvesting Our Future” board member Colleen Jones.

“Harvesting Our Future is just a
group of us women – Lora Thompson Hall, myself and Barb Roberts – coming
together, noticing that the Harvest Fest was not going to be put on for the
community, so we tried just to step up to allow the community to have some kind
of interaction, some kind of fun, and it is about our future, and our children
are our future so we decided that we were going to come together as mothers and
work together to have a parade and a car show,” said Jones.

That’s not all the event will
offer, however. Jones explained the event will also feature vendors, a jump
house, finger painting, and other events as well. She said the community has
really come forward to help as much as possible.

“And then we decided why not have
some face painting, a pie eating contest for fun, and we got a lot of the local
businesses and one of them is Rob from Downtown Depot who’s putting on the pie
eating contest. So, we have a lot of interaction with Knox, the heart of the
community, which is willing to step up and help us with Harvesting Our Future,”
Jones said.

While the women are asking for
donations to participate in the car show, she said they’re not asking for
money; rather, they’re looking for canned goods that would be given to the
local food pantry – and at a perfect time, too, as the food pantry recently
announced they are in need of help to serve nearly 1000 families each month.

“All we’re asking for the car show
is not even a donation of money, we’re just asking to bring a canned good item
to go back into the community, to give back to the local food pantry to help
them out too,” Jones said.

The event will take place on Aug.
24 with no entry fee. Registration for the car show begins at 8 a.m. CT at Knox
City Park, where a variety of other attractions will take place as well. The
car show begins at 10 a.m. and awards will be given to the top three in various
categories with judging to be held at 12 p.m. The car show ends at 1 p.m., and
the parade will follow shortly after at 3 p.m. beginning at the Knox High
School on Main Street. Those lining up for the parade are encouraged to arrive
at 1 p.m.

For more information on the car
show, contact Barb Roberts at (574) 772-6998 or Jones at (574) 772-7258. For
parade information, contact Lora Thompson Hall at (574) 806-4278.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Dr. Laura Louise Boilini (a native of North Judson, currently Dean of Arts & Sciences at St. Johns River State College in Palatka, Florida) will be visiting the North Judson-Wayne Township Library August 31st, from 10 a.m. to noon, to autograph copies of her book Life’s Bouquet.

A limited number of copies of her book, along with note cards of her paintings, will be available for purchase.

The beginning of the school year is quickly approaching, and many student athletes are gearing up to get back into the game. Rob Vessely, athletic director at North Judson-San Pierre High School, told WKVI that there are a number of forms that student athletes must fill out and turn in before they can compete in any IHSAA-sanctioned sports.

Vessely said two forms are required by IHSAA, including a physical form and a signed concussion waiver. The physical form indicates that the student has passed a physical exam and is capable of playing sports, while the second form focuses more on a potential injury.

“The IHSAA also requires student athletes to sign off on what’s called a concussion waiver. All it does is, the parent and the student athlete sign that form so they understand and they’re aware of the risks associated with playing sports and that concussions are a risk of playing any type of sport,” said Vessely.

North Judson schools also require two additional forms, according to Vessely. He said the corporation also requires an insurance form and an emergency form; the insurance form states what kind of insurance coverage or lack thereof the student’s family has, while the emergency form contains contact information to be used in case of an emergency.

Vessely said the school has contracted with IU Health to provide athletic trainers on site at the schools to provide athletic training services, and toward the end of the school year, the gymnasium is used to conduct sports physicals for student athletes, giving them the physical form to be used in the next year.

“That way, they can come in – this past year, for example, it was only $10, they do a full circuit of examinations and they come out with a physical they can use in the next school year,” said Vessely. “It’s a great service they provide.”

Check with your child’s school corporation to ensure that all the paperwork required to participate in sports has been filled out correctly.

A number of students in our area utilize the federal Free and Reduced Meals program offered and the new guidelines are now in effect until June 30, 2014.

The guidelines apply to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and other programs. The program’s eligibility and other mandates are adjusted annually and are based on the Federal income poverty guidelines. They are stated on household size.

Definition of income as explained in the guidelines means income before any deductions such as income taxes, Social Security taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions and bonds.

Reduced price meals account for 185 percent of the Federal poverty guideline and free meals account for 130 percent of the Federal poverty guideline. A complete income guideline chart can be found here.

The number of free and reduced students becomes a factor when analyzing ISTEP+ scores as those students are in their own group. They can either improve or worsen a school’s overall performance on the test.

With the supply drives behind them, Kid’s Closet Ministry’s Pack-a-Backpack event is coming up this week. On Aug. 7 and 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. CT at the North Judson Methodist Church, Linda Lewandowski said the ministry will be giving away school supplies to children in need.

“We’re looking for children in need. So, basically, if your children are on free or reduced lunch, then they should qualify for a free backpack and school supplies. You just need to show up on Aug. 7 or 8, Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall at the North Judson United Methodist Church and we will have paperwork for you to fill out – a registration form for the children. The children have to be present with the parent or guardian,” Lewandowski explained.

Kids will receive a backpack, crayons, scissors, and just about everything they need to start the school year. Supply drives held last month went a long way in providing the items needed for the event, and Lewandowski said other fundraisers and donations are helping them continue with their mission.

“We’ve always known the need has been there. I’ve heard of kids that have told me stories that they have themselves taken things in for kids in their classroom that have needed things. So this is just an idea that stemmed from a child and we just decided to start the program in the spring of this year and it’s just a trial and error kind of thing. We’re trying to figure out how we can meet the needs of kids in this community,” Lewandowski said.

The program looks to help children in Starke County by providing them with the essentials they need for school. She said children are sent to the ministry at the recommendation of teachers or through Love INC, where children are screened and then turned over to the program for assistance.

Students who are studying for their GED have until the end of the year to pass the test before new state standards take effect. Bob Hornung teaches GED classes in Starke, Pulaski and Jasper Counties. He says the entire test is changing to a new, more intensive version.
“It’s going to have writing across every subject, because up to the core standards is what the new test will represent, the new state core standards. Everything’s going to be in line that way. Unfortunately someone who has taken a test with the old version can’t carry those passing scores over from the old year. They have to start all over from scratch under the new rules of the test,” Hornung said.

Hornung says students who are working toward a GED can finish up by the end of the year if they work hard. He says the time frame for completing the test depends on several factors, including the individual’s starting point.

“Some come in and maybe they’re just recently out of school and maybe have gotten through the 11th grade completely, they’re going to have a more recency effect to draw on. We have some people that may have been out of school for many years and may have only went to the 9th grade equivalent there, so there may be some catching up to do,” said Hornung.

Hornung says a student’s will to learn is equally important.

“It’s really determined on kind of where their starting point lies and the intensity they put in. How often they come to class and how hard they work when they get here will really determine the rate at which they can get from Point A to Point B,” said Hornung.

The new GED test will also be more expensive, as it is entirely computer-based. The test now costs between $50 and $70, but that cost will go up to $120 when the new standards take effect. Test takers should also know the content of the test will change. The current test has five sections: reading, science, social studies, language, and math. The future test will combine the two language arts sections, reading and language, into one comprehensive test. They will also change the format of the essay. Currently, students are mostly prompted to write something about themselves. The future test will ask test takers to write a short research essay. The new GED test also promises to have more challenging math questions and may likely include skills from trigonometry as well.

GED resources are available at the Starke County Adult Learning Center, 6, N. Shield St., Knox, 574-249-8720 or 574-772-6882 ext. 3 or at the Starke County Adult Learning Center, North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library, 208 Keller Ave., North Judson, 574-896-2841.

Here's something interesting to do - visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum on August 17th for their Civil War Encampment. Visit with Civil War reenactors, enjoy authentic period displays, watch and listen to cannon fire and learn about this pivotal period in American history. Train rides at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 2:45 pm (all Central Time, of course).

Thursday, August 1, 2013

OK, I can hear mom sniggering in the background, implying that I don’t do any work. But when was the last time that a leaf assaulted the yard without being challenged? Or how about all those people on the other side of the street who keep walking past the house when they hear me barking? I earn my kibble every day!

And once school starts on August 14th plenty of others will be working like a dog. Like all those students getting up early for school. Moms and dads will be getting up even earlier to wake up the kids for school, some will even have to go in under the covers and drag them out, just like a Terrier. Teachers, support staff, and administrators will go into school early and leave late, while also getting their kids up and ready for school. The list goes on and on.

But did you ever wonder what it means to “work like a dog?” According to Holiday Insights:

Work Like a Dog Day honors and recognizes the hardest working among us.

Some people skate by, doing as little as possible. Others, do only what they have to. Others still work like a dog. While work is to be done, they dig in relentlessly. They seldom take a break until the task is completed.

We want to make sure to differentiate between "Work-A-Holics" and those who "Work Like a Dog". Work-A-Holics are always working, even though they may not be working hard. Those who work like a dog, work very hard while they are working. But, they do not work all of the time.

Today is a day to show appreciation for those who carry more than their load, and work like a dog. You can also honor them by working like a dog today.

So if you happen to cross paths with someone working like a dog today, be sure you:

tell them what a good boy/girl they are,

give them a pat on the head or back (a nice scratch behind the ears or under the chin really makes me happy),